Fresh out of college? Start a Roth IRA

Sep. 24, 2012

Written by

John Waggoner
USA TODAY

You're out of college, you've got a job, and everyone is offering you advice. Dress professionally, your dad tells you. Don't spend too much on cable, your mom says. Beware of giant lobsters, says the guy who shouts at everyone in the subway.

But if you're simply wondering what you should do with any extra money -- assuming there's any left over after your student loan payment -- here's what you need to do: Start a Roth IRA.

Let's start with the basics. An individual retirement account is a special account that lets you defer or eliminate taxes on your investments. You can have an IRA in nearly any ...